Valour comes face to face with one of her worst nightmares; a Talderan Sabretooth

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Built into the cliffs overlooking the Suvan Sea, Riverfall resides on the edge of grasslands of Cyphrus where the Bluevein River plunges off the plain and cascades down to the inland sea below. Home of the Akalak, Riverfall is a self-supporting city populated by devoted warriors. [Riverfall Codex]

Valour had taken it upon herself to take a day to allow the beauty of Riverfall to thoroughly sink in. She knew that in order for her to truly settle, she needed to get a good look at the city and today she had picked a very serene location; Semele Park. She wanted to take advantage of no longer living in a land that sported the deadly cold, one where she could walk around wearing lighter clothing. It seemed she’d been pessimistic for the past few days, and so a good look at where she now lived would hopefully lighten her mood.

Valour’s attire was one she didn’t quite particularly feel comfortable in, though she had forced herself to accommodate to something more fitting for the weather. The cloak she normally wrapped around her protectively - while not left back at the Kuahala Estates - was secured between her left arm and body. She wore her average short sleeved shirt along with her perfectly kempt white pants. Her hair was left hanging loosely on either side of her head, and showed signs of having been carefully combed through. The bare skin she had exposed was a light olive complexion, contrasting with her dark, almost black hair. The faded streaks of blue embedded in her wavy strands added an interesting splash of color to the overall palette. Joy was portrayed with the faded violet that glimmered within her irises, all a single, unwavering shade. Her back was fairly straight, arms resting on either side of her body comfortably.

The walk to Semele Park had been a lengthy one considering it was on the complete opposite side of the Kuahala Estates. Throughout her walk in the city, she had made sure to keep her cloak on in order to refrain from being recognized. She had gotten a bit of a leg workout during the whole of it, marching at an abnormally fast pace. She had received a few stares of confusion, though she expected no less with the odd manner in which she presented herself. It wasn’t just how she carried herself, but the hard stare her eyes bore as they searched through the map for Semele Park. She seemed far too concentrated for happy, but she was probably the happiest she’d been in a while.

Upon reaching the wonderful floral park, she halted at the entrance, peering inside intently. The path she would walk was lined with bushes dotted with flowers of all shapes, colors and sizes. The fragrance flitting in the air was intoxicating, however her expectations had been high upon taking into account the magnificence and prestige of the city design. Semele Park was no disappointment, it was more spectacular than she had imagined; paths ran through the clusters of flowers swerving left and right, towards the center she could see a sizeable lake that glittered against the suns harsh rays. The scene sang out elegance and harmony, it attracted her easily. She’d never seen such beauty back in Avanthal, despite the fact that she still did enjoy the shimmering, glassy ice that made up majority of the city.

With her violet eyes trained on the lake, she began walking graciously over the paths, her boots creating audible clicks against the solid ground. She spotted a few aged Akalaks here and there, though she concluded it was probably due to the early timing; the sun had only been glimmering for an hour. This didn’t disappoint her, she was actually overcome by a sensation of comfort. Valour preferred clearings to be nearly empty, though not completely desolate. She enjoyed being in clusters of people she was familiar with rather than those whom were unknown to her.

Spreading out her right arm, she relished in the softness of the leaves and flowers as they brushed against her hand- a hand that seemed so rough in comparison. A content sigh was exhaled as she neared the sparkling lake, though halting abruptly. She had stopped in between two abnormally large bushes, though it wasn’t a shock considering the diversity of vegetation. She turned to kneel beside a single one. Her hand extended as she reached for the flowers, however she paused as an odd sensation washed over her. Her hands reeled back, and in that same moment, as though synchronized, a large, white muzzle appeared.

The muzzle was poking out of the bush she had been observing, and the mouth contained noticeably large tusks. The tusks protruded from either side of the mouth and were a pale yellow. The animal’s head then proceeded to stick out of the bush, and Valour’s shock resulted in her standing completely still, her expression one of disbelief and overwhelm. This animal was a Talderan Sabretooth, a creature that could never be found in places like Riverfall- so how was this possible?

Its small ears flickered against the feeble bush, causing a single leaf to twitch in response. It then took a menacing step forward, its eyes burning with a pugnacious fire. It was then that she noticed the dry, crimson liquid of blood decorating both tusks. Her thoughts whirled and she could have sworn that there had been no blood upon the first inspection. She didn’t have much time to ponder on the matter considering the mammal had begun gingerly exiting its cover, aggressive stare trained on her fearful eyes. Valour was stepping back, her eyes as yellow as the petal of a perfect sunflower. The arm holding the cloak began to cautiously move, working to drape the material over and around her body. Valour successfully managed to put it on, though she had not moved an inch. Her legs began to shake, and her balance became unsteady as the whole body of the animal was revealed. It wasn’t exactly huge, though its size was decent and she could clearly see the muscles rippling behind its pearly tinted pelt. Faded, grey stripes lay in streaks across its body, excluding its face.

This was definitely a Talderan Sabretooth, there was no doubt in her mind. However, this meant that she would no doubt be killed if she did not flee. Her mind raced and her heart dropped at the realization that there was no way she could possibly outrun it. The beast had begun to salivate, the repulsive liquid dribbling from its muzzle and down its tusks, landing with a sickening ‘splat’ against the terrain. She took this as her cue to run, ignoring the doubtful thoughts that she would not succeed.

Her legs moved rapidly, in sync, slamming down harshly against the stone path that lead out of Semele park. She wanted to get home and retrieve her bow and arrows- not that it would make any difference in the outcome of her life. Nevertheless, she continued on, her hair flowing backwards against the sharp impact of wind, arms elevating and descending with each lunge forth, and her breath fleeting as each one passed. The Kuahala Estates were far, but the adrenaline that was pumping through her entire body did not know about the means of time, it was focused solely on her survival. She occasionally glanced back, though did not catch a glimpse of the fear-inflicting beast.

Upon reaching the apartments, she slowed to an ungraceful stop. Her throat felt as though it had not been introduced to water in years, and her chest heaved with a prodding ache. Her limbs felt feeble, and soreness was already present in the entirety of her body. She did not stop to think, but simply rushed to her apartment and pushed open the door. It complied, and she wobbled hastily in. Her eyes averted to a chest of drawers near her bed, and she instantly bolted to the lowest one, yanking it open to reveal her weapons. A shortbow lay neatly against the floor of the drawer, and a quiver loaded with twenty shortbow arrows rested soundly beside it. She knew that despite this Sabretooths smaller size, killing it would be a futile attempt.

Adrenaline pumping rapidly through her veins, Valour yanked the quiver over her shoulder. She pulled out the shortbow, attempting to familiarize herself with the mechanics. She hadn’t used it in a while, which simply added to the unlucky scenario. She had planned on training herself to use it, though she would clearly have to learn much sooner than intended. On the flip side, it was a weapon that her hands had memorized; they ran along the wooden limbs in recognition, pulling back at the flexible string. Her quivering hands pulled out an arrow from its case, her eyes peering over it as she attempted to recall how to load the bow. Her eyes landed on the nock, a part she had learned about throughout her travels. Her unsteady hands moved to attach it to the middle of the string, a single eye shutting as she aimed at her closed door. She was crouched down beside her drawers; her entire body was numb as she anxiously waited for something to appear out of the blue.

The door suddenly creaked, opening slowly, almost threateningly. She remained pressed against the chest of drawers, cold sweat dripping from her forehead and onto her nose. She tasted the salty liquid as it fitted itself in between her lips, which she proceeded to chew anxiously. The door was now wide open, a cold air drifting into the expanse of the room; a single shiver ran through her body. The pugnacious beast seemed to appear out of nowhere, its fur prickling with aggression as its deadly glare landed on her. The muzzle fizzed and bubbled, saliva splattering against the floor of her room. The beast released an alarming growl, its ears pressing firmly against its skull as it began closing the distance between itself and her.

Valour’s arrow was pointed directly at the creature, though the beast did not falter in the weapon’s presence. Taking this as a cue to fire, she released the arrow, though it fell awkwardly beside the Sabre, tumbling across the ground and bumping harmlessly into the animal. A loud, abrupt rumble emitted from the beast’s chest, one that resembled laughter. Its small yet oddly powerful paws crushed the feeble arrow as it continued its carefree walk towards her. She thought quickly, deciding that she had not pulled the string back hard enough to grant it the power it needed to efficiently harm the creature. Loading another arrow, she yanked the string back, the fear of death giving her the strength she needed to haul it back farther than before. Her aim was on the Sabre, and as it took a step closer, she released. This time, the arrow lurched forth and whooshed towards her target, the arrowhead embedding itself in its left foreleg. The response was a grimace and a blood-curdling yowl of frustration.

Valour stood up to her full height, getting ready to hurriedly exit her apartment. However, the Sabre leaped at her, its paws extended and claws ready. A weak scream escaped her lips as she stumbled ungracefully out of the way, her knees painfully colliding with the ground. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself up and bolted for the door; she managed to escape her apartment. Valour raced down the stairs- her goal was to escape the Kuahala estates to a more open region where she would have a clear view of everything. Clasping her bow tightly she began running through the Kuahala territory, exiting it briskly. The patter of paws appeared to be closer, the sound thrumming against her eardrums.

Just as she had stepped foot onto the path leading through Riverfall, she felt a harsh force impacting her back. This caused her to tumble head first towards the hard concrete, her palms instinctively stretching outwards to break the fall. The quiver still hung from her shoulder, though a good few arrows were sent tumbling out, while her bow remained gripped tightly in her right hand. She gritted her teeth upon the collision, her body rolling pitifully onto one side. She took a moment to look over her crimson decorated burns, though a warm puff of air caused her head to lift upwards. She was met with a threatening glare, one belonging to the predator. The smell of rotting flesh danced on the animal’s breath as it’s gaping mouth formed an unnatural grin. Valour froze, though her fingers searched around the ground for an arrow. When she felt the familiar material, her thumb drifted over the arrowhead which she proceeded to pick up and plunge right into the animal’s eye. It clearly hadn’t expected this as it shrank backwards and released a pain streaked yowl. The big cat writhed around the ground, the nock of the arrow swinging to and fro in response to the animal’s harsh movements. Valour could clearly see the crimson of blood bursting from the penetrated pupil, dripping down the animals nose and covering its muzzle.

Valour took this as a chance to pick up her bow and an arrow. Loading the weapon, she pulled back the string, gathering up enough strength to haul it as far back as she possibly could. She aimed for the animal, though steadying her grip was a challenge. The feline had begun to recover, however this was when she released her powerful hold. The arrow was given enough power as it whooshed from its position and right into the Sabre’s unharmed foreleg. It seemed to embed itself between what appeared to be the shoulder blade and the first bone beginning the foreleg. It winced only slightly, a single one of its forepaws moving upwards to tear the arrowhead from its deep mark.

Taking this as her cue, she grabbed the arrows that had fallen and bolted over the path. Having been too concentrated with her problem, she hadn’t noticed the crowd that had begun to gather around her while she had attempted to unprofessionally fight off the big cat. She only took note of this as she brushed through the people, shoving past them and yelling at them to get away. They all seemed to maintain the same expression; confusion. How were they confused? There was a killer beast poised right in front of them and no one was running away. Maybe this was a Kelvic? It certainly had portrayed human emotions. Maybe it was a Kelvic hunting for Vanthas? She wasn’t sure, though the bottom line was it would have to die.

Considering Valour’s stamina was not one of her many valued skills, her head had grown rather fuzzy with the foreign run. Her breath came in fast, and her lower abdominal region ached. She rounded the corner of Valereig’s Gem Shop, and was unintentionally making her way towards Knirin Gardens. Stopping at the entrance, she whipped around, her limbs reluctantly holding her body upright. She reached for an arrow, searching frantically for the pursuer. To her relief, it seemed to have disappeared. The scenario seemed rather odd- that such a fast animal could be outrun by a child; Valour knew something was wrong. This practically defied the logic of animal capabilities in contrast to a human’s.

Her thoughts had come too soon as the stench of blood suddenly slithered into the air; the smell was molded with that of a wild animal's. A long sigh escaped her lips, her body gradually rotating clockwise; she then came face to face with the beast. While one eye remained dripping with the reeking liquid, the other was staring up at her angrily. Its fur was no longer sleek and smooth looking, but rather ruffled and knotted. Brown spots of dirt ate away at the white that had been so magnificent. The animal had managed to get into Knirin Gardens before her- as though it had predicted where she would end up reaching, or as though it had ‘magically’ appeared upon her own arrival. As she reached to ready her bow, the animal lunged for her. Its muzzle widened before coming down on one of the bow’s legs. They were both lost in a flurry of tug of war, her strength feeble in comparison. Valour finally released the weapon and hastily stepped away. Her unbalanced feet tripped over themselves and she was left scooting backwards, her eyes wide with fear. The Sabre had left the bow strewn across the grassy floor, and turned to launch its form right at her. Its paws met her chest with a sharp thud, its nails digging minor holes in her cloak. The saliva that lined its lips dripped down its tusks and onto her petrified face. The creature sneered, the close proximity revealing the sharp teeth that had been specifically designed for cutting and tearing into flesh.

Valour didn’t have time, and she knew that remaining completely frozen would end badly. As the Sabre’s head launched forth, it widened its maw. It appeared to be aiming for her eye- as though wanting revenge for the damage it had taken. Her head veered to the left, missing the tusks by a mere inch. She felt one of them grind against her ear, though thankfully, it was not a fatal blow. The evoked fear and concern for her well-being resulted in an attack of panic. Her arm drew back, and her fingers pulled inwards, her hands forming fists. She launched her forearm forwards, aiming for the Sabre’s bleeding pupil, before bringing her knee up in attempt to slam into the beasts stomach. Her fist connected with its eye, followed by the painful knee to the abdomen. The Sabre’s weight lifted off of her for a moment, though it was just enough time for her to crawl away.

The blow to the stomach seemed to have taken a toll on the animal, giving her the momentum she needed to grab her bow. Lifting it upwards, she searched the ground for the arrow that had fallen alongside it. Locating it, she picked it up and loaded the bow. Grasping the string, she yanked it backwards before letting it go. Due to the close distance between herself and the beast, the arrowhead easily pierced the flesh right behind the shoulder blade. This blow seemed to drive the Sabre mad, and just as Valour was about to turn and run, she bumped right into an Akalak.

”Hey, watch it girl.” The man frowned, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the invisible predicament.

Without making eye contact, or revealing her features, Valour spoke quickly. ”You need to run! That Sabre’s dangerous!” She had already passed him, though was warning franticly.

”What Sabre? There’s nothing there. You must be delusional.” He responded, turning to stare at the space in front of them.

Valour could clearly see the animal whipping its head from one side to the other as it attempted to get the painfully positioned arrow out. It was bleeding, and the liquid had dripped onto the grass beneath quite noticeably. How could the Akalak not see it? It was right there! She couldn’t possibly be imagining it; her face was still laced with the animal’s saliva. ”Run! It’s right there!” She yelled out, pointing with her free hand. Her response was a confused stare, before the Akalak brushed her off and walked away, passing the big cat. ”What are you?” Valour gasped, the question causing the animal’s ears to prick and its head to turn. It responded with another smirk, before turning back to take the arrow out. Valour was stumped- what on earth was she dealing with? This was not something ordinary, the encounter with the Akalak had made that a fact.

Brushing off the abnormality, she decided that her main focus would have to be on how to end its life. She thought up ideas as she rushed through the Knirin Gardens- it was strangely empty today. Nevertheless, she thought up areas in which she would have to strike. The stomach had appeared to be a vulnerability, though shooting at it would be almost impossible. Her skill with a bow was nowhere near advanced. The throat seemed doable, though she would need a clear shot at it. Turning her head, she cast a glance at the Sabre which was still struggling with the arrow. She had gotten lucky with that shot, and it had given her a generous amount of time to sort out her next move.

Scrutinizing the clearing, she focused her gaze on a small, empty gazebo that stood poised by Lake Knirin. Taking in a deep, shaky breath, Valour made for the structure. She stepped onto the wooden floor, glancing wearily about as she made sure it was completely empty. Turning around, she hid behind the small shelter that it provided, her eyes searching through the gaps. She would have to shoot the Sabre from this place, it was her best chance. The beast was wounded, thus making it naturally weaker. The blood it was losing probably wouldn’t be too helpful on its part, either. This meant it would most probably be slower, and adopt a limp. These thoughts rolled through her head as she waited impatiently, the quiver secured on her shoulder and the bow loaded with another arrow.

Sweat clung to her forehead and dripped lamely down the side of her face as she gazed through the crevice. She was not exposed, but instead had access to as much visual as she could possibly get. The reason she was not too concerned on the feline appearing magically behind her was due to the sound of heavy breathing and low, guttural snarls emitting from the direction she had run from. The threatening noises were nearing; she assumed it was limping towards where she had darted. Sure enough, her violet eyes rested on the attacker. Bloody specks decorated the entirety of its pelt, and the flesh the arrowhead had pierced appeared mangled, as though the creature had ripped a chunk of it out in order to free itself from her arrow.

Her breathing was short and haste, and she gulped nervously; she was not used to such long periods of running and adrenaline. She knew that this was her last resort- she had one more attempt before the dwindling energy in her body would disintegrate into nothingness. She had to kill it, and the sooner the better.

Valour’s eyes remained perched on the animal, looking it over and observing its state. It was no longer standing proudly, but rather walking slowly, with a noticeable limp. If it weren’t for the look of complete hate and aggression plastered to its face, she may have considered sparing its life. However, the animal was walking straight to her, as though challenging her to shoot- mocking her abilities and confidence. Valour did not want to kill the Sabre, though she had no intentions of dying today. The final thought ejected from her mind and a state of concentration took over. Her eyes narrowed and her right hand drew the string backwards. The weapon seemed to comply with her thoughts- she had learned her lesson of dwindling her strength. She was not a short, petite lady with no power, she was simply afraid of pushing for complete strength.

Releasing the string, she watched as the well-aimed arrow swiveled through the air and pierced her target’s throat, at last. The windpipe was undoubtedly struck. The animal halted, it’s eyes bulging as blood bubbled from its mouth, trickled down its chin and impacted the ground with a sickening ‘splat’. The creature collapsed, it’s chest heaving and its pupils dilating.

Valour stepped from her cover and walked cautiously over. She had never killed such a beast, though she’d heard numerous stories on the matter. She was staring down at the body; it was odd how something so dangerous had become so vulnerable within the span of a mere second. Valour kneeled down beside the animal, her cheeks filling with air before releasing a long sigh of relief. ”I’m sorry I have to kill you… after all, you are trying to kill me, right?” She mumbled, her eyes narrowing. The animal hadn’t died yet, despite the blood that continued to well at its mouth. ”Are you a Kelvic?” Valour questioned; she had to know who this was and what they wanted- or what this was.

The animal shook its head, its eyes staring pugnaciously up at her. ”What are you? How can no one see you? Why are you trying to kill me?” Questions carelessely flooded from the Vantha’s lips as she stared intently down at the creature. She hadn’t taken into account the beast’s strength. It attempted to thrust itself forward, its mandible lowered and its muzzle snapping viciously. A quiet exclamation of shock left her lips as she barely missed the teeth. She’d escaped just in time, though received a sharp scratch against her cheek. A reminder of proximity consequences. At this point she knew she wouldn’t receive any answers; it was time to end its life.

Grabbing a final arrow, she loaded it, pulled back, and send the point straight through the animal’s skull. It was then that the breathing stopped, and it fell silent. Its pupils lost emotion, and its body hardened. She had intended to bury it, though the next events left her dumbfounded. The body faded, along with the blood that had splattered over the ground. A second, two seconds, three, and it was gone. Every trace of it had disappeared. Valour raised a hand to her cheek, confirming that the scratch was still there. She then moved her hand to feel her ear. Sure enough, the laceration had not been decimated. The wounds were a sign that she had not been imagining everything, but the contradiction was that no one had seen the wrong-doer.

”This doesn’t make any sense. . .” Valour muttered, stepping backwards. People seemed to be filling the Knirin Gardens now, and some were staring at her hooded figure questioningly. Despite feeling very shaken up, her mind was still intact- she would not dwell on the matter in the open. Her plan would be to get back home and take a long, warm shower, where she would procrastinate on the events. ”None of this is natural. . .something’s wrong. She muttered, whipping around and rushing back to the safety of her home. She had been through enough for one day.